Network address (e.g. IP address) allocation under first and second protocols (e.g. RADIUS and DHCP) is achieved using a directory service. A common network address pool is maintained under the control of a directory service. The directory service allocates network addresses in response to requests. The directory service also maintains a record of network address allocation to users, which can be achieved by storing a network address allocated to a user at the user's entry in the directory. Thus, for example, IP address allocation under RADIUS and DHCP can be unified using a common address pool and mappings between IP addresses and the user/hosts information in an ISO/CCITT X.500 based directory service using LDAP.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A computer implemented method for network address allocation under first and second protocols, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining a common network address pool of available network addresses for said first and said second protocols as part of a directory service; communicatively linking said directory service to a first protocol-based mechanism and to a second protocol-based mechanism; and responding to messages from one of said first and second protocol-based mechanisms under at least one of said first and said second protocols to cause said directory service to record an allocated network address from said available network addresses in said common network address pool.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said responding step comprises: responding to an allocation request from a client to initiate allocation of an instance of said network address.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said initiating step comprises sending an LDAP message from a protocol front end to said directory service.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: returning said allocated network address to said client.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: said directory service retrieving an available said network address from a directory of said directory service.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of: said directory service storing said network address allocated to a user at an entry in said directory.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said directory service is an ISO/CCITT X.500 based directory service under the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said network address is an IP address.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second protocols are DHCP and RADIUS, interchangeably.
10. A computer implemented method for IP address allocation under RADIUS and DHCP, said method comprising steps of: a) receiving a request from a client for an IP address through at least one of said RADIUS and said DHCP; b) sending said request to a single directory service for an unused IP address; c) returning a response to said client including said unused IP address allocated to said client; and d) updating the directory service for the allocated IP address hostname/client binding.
11. The method of claim 10 , comprising a subsequent step of e) de-allocating said IP address using accounting information on user logoff for RADIUS.
12. The method of claim 10 , comprising a subsequent step of e) de-allocating said IP address using lease time expiration for DHCP.
13. A directory server operable to provide network address allocation under first and second protocols, said directory server comprising a directory service controller operable: to maintain a common network address pool in a directory of said directory service controller; and to respond to a message from a protocol front end for at least one of said first and second protocols to record a network address allocation in said directory.
14. A directory server according to claim 13 , wherein said directory service controller is further operable to respond to a request for allocation of a network address to allocate and to return said network address.
15. A network address allocation mechanism for network address allocation under first and second protocols, said mechanism comprising a directory service controller configured to be operable to maintain a common network address pool of available network addresses for said first and said second protocols and a protocol front end configured to be operable to respond to at least one of said first and said second protocols to initiate recording of said network address allocation.
16. The mechanism of claim 15 , wherein said protocol front end is further configured to be operable to respond to an allocation request from a client to initiate allocation of said network address.
17. The mechanism of claim 16 , wherein said protocol front end is further configured to be operable to send an LDAP message to said directory service.
18. The mechanism of claim 16 , wherein said protocol front end is further configured to be operable to return an allocated network address to said client.
19. The mechanism of claim 15 , wherein said directory service is further configured to retrieve an available said network address from a directory of said directory service.
20. The mechanism of claim 19 , wherein said directory service comprises an object based directory and is further configured to be operable to store said network address allocated to a user at an entry for said user in said directory.
21. The mechanism of claim 15 , wherein said directory service is an ISO/CCITT X.500 based directory service under the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).
22. The mechanism of claim 15 , wherein said network address is an IP address.
23. The mechanism of claim 15 , wherein said first and second protocols are DHCP and RADIUS, interchangeably.
24. A network address allocation mechanism for network address allocation under first and second protocols, said mechanism comprising means for maintaining a common network address pool and means for recording a network address allocation in response to messages under at least one of said first and said second protocols.
25. A mechanism according to claim 24 , further comprising means for allocating a network address to a user.
26. A computer program product on a carrier medium, said computer program product forming a mechanism for network address allocation under first and second protocols, said mechanism being configured to be operable to define a common network address pool and to record a network address allocation in response to messages under at least one of said first and said second protocols.
27. The computer program product on a carrier medium according to claim 26 , wherein said mechanism is further operable to respond to a request for allocation of a network address under at least one of said first and said second protocols to allocate and return said network address.
28. A computer-implemented method for network address allocation, comprising: maintaining a common network address pool of available network addresses for allocation under DHCP and RADIUS protocols; communicatively linking the common network address pool to a DHCP-based mechanism and to a RADIUS-based mechanism; and responding to a message from one of the mechanisms under at least one of the DHCP or RADIUS protocols by recording an allocated network address from the pool of available network addresses and returning a response to a device sending the messages including the allocated network address.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 3, 1998
September 2, 2003
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